Chelsea wasted £63m on Lampard signing who earned more than Palmer does

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Enzo Maresca’s Impact on Chelsea and the Rise of New Stars

With Enzo Maresca steering Chelsea’s vision, fans have rekindled their faith in the club. Thanks to Maresca’s strategic choices and a host of fresh faces, the Blues are evolving into a cohesive, formidable force.

Chelsea’s Current Position in the Premier League

Sitting comfortably in fifth place in the Premier League, Chelsea boasts one of Europe’s most promising line-ups. The club’s roster showcases depth and variety, especially in midfield, along with some of the finest defensive talent in English football. The heart of Chelsea’s power, however, lies in the interplay between the forwards and midfielders, and no one exemplifies this more than Cole Palmer. Brought in for a reported £40 million, Palmer has been nothing short of transformative, breathing new life into Stamford Bridge.

Cole Palmer’s Meteoric Rise

Last season, Chelsea welcomed Cole Palmer, one of England’s brightest young stars, albeit with skepticism from fans who feared they had overpaid for an untested talent. Palmer has since silenced critics with remarkable performances, swiftly establishing himself among Europe’s elite. Though Chelsea finished sixth last season, Palmer’s contributions were instrumental, earning the Blues a place in the 2024/25 Conference League.

Had Palmer’s skills been harnessed elsewhere, Chelsea might still be struggling. With 25 goals and 15 assists across all competitions last season, his contributions proved invaluable. According to FBref, Palmer, still just 22, ranks among the elite 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for goals, 2% for assists, and shows high marks in other crucial areas like shot-creating actions and progressive passes.

With such extraordinary stats, it’s no wonder Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher recently praised him as “the best player in the Premier League.” In recognition of his impact, Palmer has inked a new contract with Chelsea, earning £130,000 per week—a deal that binds him to Stamford Bridge until 2033.

Timo Werner’s Time at Chelsea

Compared to Palmer’s impactful performance, Chelsea’s earlier big-ticket signings didn’t yield the same results. Take Timo Werner, for example. When Chelsea signed him from RB Leipzig in June 2020 for £45 million, it was celebrated as a significant acquisition. With interest from Liverpool and Bayern Munich, Werner seemed destined to be a star, especially after a stellar 2019/20 season with 34 goals and 13 assists.

But despite his Champions League success in his first season, Werner struggled to meet the expectations that his transfer fee and reputation had set. Limited goal returns combined with high wages eventually earned him the title of an “expensive flop” at Chelsea.

Werner’s Total Cost at Chelsea

Now at Tottenham Hotspur, Werner’s inconsistency during his time at Chelsea is evident in the stats. Over two Premier League seasons, he managed only ten goals, missing 24 significant scoring chances. By contrast, Palmer, who has already scored 29 top-flight goals, missed only 12 such chances—a stark difference that highlights their respective impacts.

Werner’s salary was also a burden, with Chelsea paying over £9 million annually, approximately £173,000 per week. When considering his transfer fee, Chelsea’s total investment in Werner reached around £63 million—a costly error by any measure. Although Werner contributed to Chelsea’s Champions League triumph, his underwhelming Premier League performance failed to justify the price tag.

Despite Werner’s Champions League contributions, his costly tenure stands as a lesson in Chelsea’s recent player investments.